Over the past 24 hours, five civilians were injured as a result of Russian strikes on the Chernihiv region, including a child who is in serious condition.
Over the past 24 hours, five civilians were injured as a result of Russian strikes on the Chernihiv region, including a child who is in serious condition.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has published information on the War&Sanctions portal regarding a new variant of the “Geran-4” jet-powered drones, which Russia began deploying this fall.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has published information on the War&Sanctions portal regarding a new variant of the “Geran-4” jet-powered drones, which Russia began deploying this fall.
There were 177 combat engagements between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian troops over the past day. The enemy was most active in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions.
There were 177 combat engagements between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian troops over the past day. The enemy was most active in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions.
On the morning of October 5, an equipment failure temporarily left residents of parts of Odesa's Kyivskyi, Prymorskyi, and Khadzhybeyskyi districts without electricity.
On the morning of October 5, an equipment failure temporarily left residents of parts of Odesa's Kyivskyi, Prymorskyi, and Khadzhybeyskyi districts without electricity.
Russian forces carried out 45 strikes on 21 settlements across 14 territorial communities in the Sumy region over the 24-hour period from the morning of October 4 to the morning of October 5, killing one person and injuring others.
Russian forces carried out 45 strikes on 21 settlements across 14 territorial communities in the Sumy region over the 24-hour period from the morning of October 4 to the morning of October 5, killing one person and injuring others.
The total combat losses of Russian forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, from February 24, 2022, to October 5, 2026, amount to approximately 1,542,720 personnel, including 2,020 personnel over the past 24 hours.
The total combat losses of Russian forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, from February 24, 2022, to October 5, 2026, amount to approximately 1,542,720 personnel, including 2,020 personnel over the past 24 hours.
The German Embassy in Ukraine, together with other diplomatic missions, expressed concern over a threat issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry against diplomats and foreign nationals in Ukraine and said that German diplomats are staying in Kyiv.
The German Embassy in Ukraine, together with other diplomatic missions, expressed concern over a threat issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry against diplomats and foreign nationals in Ukraine and said that German diplomats are staying in Kyiv.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha praised the professionalism of Ukrainian soldiers who carried out a second operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha praised the professionalism of Ukrainian soldiers who carried out a second operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, as part of an operation codenamed "Crimean Switch Off," hit 456 energy facilities in territories temporarily occupied by Russia and inside Russia itself over the past three months.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, as part of an operation codenamed "Crimean Switch Off," hit 456 energy facilities in territories temporarily occupied by Russia and inside Russia itself over the past three months.
The Russians have confirmed the death of war criminal Roman Syromiatnikov, who tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war. He was the one who was blown up on Friday, October 2, in the Tula region while in his own car.
The Russians have confirmed the death of war criminal Roman Syromiatnikov, who tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war. He was the one who was blown up on Friday, October 2, in the Tula region while in his own car.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on partners to respond decisively to Russian terror, strengthen Ukraine's air defense and impose effective sanctions on Russia's defense industry.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on partners to respond decisively to Russian terror, strengthen Ukraine's air defense and impose effective sanctions on Russia's defense industry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the issue of transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine at a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the issue of transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine at a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Ukraine and Germany have signed a series of documents on cooperation in the defense industry, including the purchase and supply of thousands of missiles for IRIS-T systems.
Ukraine and Germany have signed a series of documents on cooperation in the defense industry, including the purchase and supply of thousands of missiles for IRIS-T systems.
The EU Delegation and all EU embassies will keep working in Kyiv despite Russia's warning that foreign diplomats should leave or risk their lives, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said on 4 October. Poland and Estonia also said their embassies would stay, calling the threats an attempt to intimidate Europe.
Russia attacks Kyiv daily as Moscow tries to make the city unlivable. Alongside the strikes, it now threatens the foreign missions that anchor Ukraine's support in the ca
The EU Delegation and all EU embassies will keep working in Kyiv despite Russia's warning that foreign diplomats should leave or risk their lives, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said on 4 October. Poland and Estonia also said their embassies would stay, calling the threats an attempt to intimidate Europe.
Russia attacks Kyiv daily as Moscow tries to make the city unlivable. Alongside the strikes, it now threatens the foreign missions that anchor Ukraine's support in the capital.
"We are staying"
Russia's Foreign Ministry singled out the embassies still working in Kyiv and the foreign officials who keep visiting Ukraine, Mathernová wrote. Moscow claimed that if something happened to them, the responsibility would be theirs.
"The responsibility for russian attacks belongs to russia! Not to anybody else," Mathernová wrote, adding: "Moscow wants to scare Europe into reducing its support for Ukraine. That will not happen."
The EU Delegation continues its work while taking the security of its team seriously, she added.
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She pointed to the morning's strike on the Northern Bridge, saying the repeated attacks disrupt the connections between the two banks of the Dnipro. People worry about getting to work, reaching their families, and getting home safely, she wrote.
Poland and Estonia keep their embassies open
Poland's Foreign Ministry said it had no intention of changing how its Kyiv embassy works. The Kremlin's threats and calls for diplomats to leave show it is trying to intimidate Europe and undermine support for Ukraine, the ministry said. Such threats contradict international law and will not work, it added.
Estonia's Foreign Ministry said its embassy stays in Kyiv and its support for Ukraine remains firm. Russia's threats only strengthen Estonia's resolve to stand with Ukraine, the ministry said.
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The European Commission also responded. Russia's threats show the Kremlin is losing the war and losing its self-control, Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said, Suspilne reported.
More aid, more sanctions
This year alone, the EU has approved €28.3 billion ($32.3 billion) in defense procurement plans for Ukraine and is releasing another €6.6 billion ($7.5 billion) linked to military aid, Mathernová wrote. It is also moving forward with its biggest-ever sanctions listings against Russia, and this week imposed new sanctions over the deportation of Ukrainian children.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz came to Kyiv on the same day, as Russian attacks on the city continued. He and Zelenskyy visited the National Academy of Sciences building, hit by a Russian drone in September, and Zelenskyy thanked him for coming despite the air raid alert, calling it "a needed and brave signal," in a post on Telegram. Germany remains a reliable partner at Ukraine's side even in difficult times, Merz wrote.
Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit Russian Su-35 and Su-34 fighter jets at a military airfield in the Republic of Adygea, Russia.
Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit Russian Su-35 and Su-34 fighter jets at a military airfield in the Republic of Adygea, Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on 4 October and announced more than €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in new German support for Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference. Part of the money will fund interceptors against Russia's jet-powered drones, as Russian drones struck Kyiv again during Merz's visit. Merz also pledged to speed up Ukraine's EU accession and announced a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on 4 October and announced more than €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in new German support for Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference. Part of the money will fund interceptors against Russia's jet-powered drones, as Russian drones struck Kyiv again during Merz's visit. Merz also pledged to speed up Ukraine's EU accession and announced a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin this winter.
Russia now attacks Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities daily, increasingly with jet-powered drones that outrun the cheap interceptors built for slower Shaheds. That leaves Ukraine dependent on scarce air defense missiles and on partners willing to pay for new weapons fast.
A package aimed at Russia's jet drones
The €1 billion ($1.13 billion) military part of the package includes funding for joint production of interceptor drones against jet-powered drones, Merz said. Recent technological progress means the new interceptors can quickly enter serial production, he added.
"This will quickly and noticeably strengthen Ukraine's air defense," Merz said.
The package also includes long-range weapons, combat drones, and satellite equipment, which Merz said should help Ukraine destroy Russian launchers more effectively. A separate €350 million ($394 million) will go to Ukraine's energy sector before winter, covering generators, transformer substations, and repair kits, Liga reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, damaged by a Russian drone strike on 28 September, 4 October 2026. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
The two countries also signed an agreement on counter-drone cooperation, Merz said. He stressed that the help runs both ways, with German defense companies learning from Ukraine's war experience. The broader deal also covers joint development of weapons with a range of more than 1,000 km, Reuters reported.
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Among interceptor drones, the Bars has so far shown the best results, downing up to 30% of its targets, Zelenskyy said. He expects the first results from small missiles designed to counter jet drones in the second half of October.
"We will not be intimidated"
Before the visit, Russia's Foreign Ministry warned foreign nationals and diplomats against staying in Ukraine and threatened new massive strikes on Kyiv. Merz arrived by train with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and a delegation of German business executives.
"Despite the threats that have reached us from Moscow in recent days, I came today... This shows: we will not let ourselves be intimidated," Merz said.
Merz and Zelenskyy visited the National Academy of Sciences, where a Russian drone killed two people and injured seven on 28 September, the State Emergency Service and the Office of the President said. An air-raid alert sounded while they spoke with rescuers, and emergency service chief Andrii Danyk showed Merz the movement of Russian drones in real time. The same day, a Russian drone hit Kyiv's Northern Bridge again.
"I can only repeat it once again from this point: Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war," Merz said during the visit. "We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this war to an end, but these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop," he added, Reuters reported.
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Zelenskyy called the chancellor's presence despite the alert "a needed and brave signal" from Merz personally and from all of Germany.
EU path and a Berlin meeting
Germany wants to speed up Ukraine's EU accession and is working toward that in Brussels, Merz said. He welcomed Zelenskyy's assurances on rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms, which he said matter for further financial aid. Together with France and the UK, Germany plans to host a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin this winter to coordinate further support, he added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha greets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his arrival in Kyiv, 4 October 2026. Photo: Andrii Sybiha/X
The trip was Merz's second to Ukraine as chancellor and his fourth since the full-scale invasion. He arrived just as his standing at home is slipping: the far-right AfD reached 30% for the first time in an INSA poll for Bild, while Merz's CDU/CSU fell to a record low of 18%. Days earlier, Merz had directly accused the AfD of having "Russian backers."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and spoke with rescuers who had cleared the aftermath of Russia's attack on September 28.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and spoke with rescuers who had cleared the aftermath of Russia's attack on September 28.
Ukraine and Germany have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in countering unmanned aerial vehicles, under which Germany will make greater use of Ukraine's experience.
Ukraine and Germany have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in countering unmanned aerial vehicles, under which Germany will make greater use of Ukraine's experience.
Ukraine is ready to participate in technical-level talks in the UAE or another country proposed by representatives of the United States, and the ball is now in Russia's court.
Ukraine is ready to participate in technical-level talks in the UAE or another country proposed by representatives of the United States, and the ball is now in Russia's court.
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